Patricia McGee, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 25 - 1999

Deborah Luster created this portrait of Patricia McGee in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, with a photographic process that feels ancient. The sepia tones are so warm, it’s as if the image has aged like a fine wine, or maybe like an old photograph you’d find tucked away in your grandmother's attic. I love how Luster plays with light and shadow here; it's almost like she’s painting with darkness. The way the light catches Patricia’s face and clothes, there’s a beautiful stillness to the composition, a sense of quiet dignity. And look closely at the edges, those imperfections, the way the image fades out. It reminds me that art, like life, is full of imperfections and that's what makes it so beautiful. It makes me think of Sally Mann, another photographer who captures the South, playing with memory, loss and time. Art is always this conversation, this echo through time, isn't it?